A53678:717
A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…
A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews viz, on the sixth, seventh, eight, ninth, and tenth chapters : wherein together with the explication of the text and context, the priesthood of Christ ... are declared, explained and confirmed : as also, the pleas of the Jews for the continuance and perpetuity of their legal worship, with the doctrine of the principal writers of the Socinians about these things, are examined and disproved / by J. Owen ...
London: printed for Nathaniel Ponder, 1680
Exegesis of chapter 6 › Exegesis of verses 13, 14, 15, 16: Verse 13, 14, 15, 16.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The next thing considerable in the words, is the especial confirmation of the Promise made to Abraham by the Oath of God. For God—when he could swear by no greater he sware by himself. And sundry things we must enquire into in this peculiar dispensation of God unto men, namely, in swearing to them.
1. The Person swearing is said to be God. God sware by himself. And ver. 17. in 1the Application of the Grace of this Promise unto Believers, it is said, that God interposed himself by an Oath. But the words here repeated are expressly ascribed unto the Angel of the Lord, Gen. 22. 15, 16. And the Angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of Heaven the second time, and said By my self have I sworn saith the Lord. So it is said before ver. 11. The Angel of the Lord called unto him out of Heaven and said Abraham; and adds in the close of ver. 12. thou hast not with-held thy Son, thine only Son from me. He is called an Angel that speaks, but he still speaks in the name of God. Three things are insisted on to assoil this difficulty. (1) Some say that he spake as a Messenger and Ambassador of God in his name, and so assumed his Titles, although he was a mere created Angel: For so a Legate may do, and use the name of him that sends him. But I do not see a sufficient foundation of this supposition. An Ambassador having first declared that he is sent, and from whom, may act in the Name and Authority of his Master; but not speak as if he were the same person. But here is no such Declaration made, and so no provision laid in against Idolatry. For when one speaks in the Name of God, not as from ⟨p. 144⟩God, but as God, who would judge but Divine Honour and Religious Worship were due unto them, which yet are not unto Angels however gloriously sent or employed, Rev. 19. 10. chap. 22. 9. Wherefore (2) It is said that this Angel doth only repeat the words of God unto Abraham as the Prophets were wont to do. And those of this mind countenance their Opinion with those words used by him, ver. 16. [Greek or Hebrew] saith the Lord; the words whereby the Prophets solemnly ushered in their messages. But yet neither will this solve the difficulty. For these words, saith the Lord, are often used in the third person, to express him unto us whom in all our Duties we regard, when God himself is introduced speaking. See